Diabetes Drug May Improve Glucose, Inflammation in HIV+ Patients

Diabetes Drug May Improve Glucose, Inflammation in HIV+ Patients

A drug indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes improved metabolism and reduced inflammation in HIV-positive adults taking antiretroviral therapy, which could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes due to chronic inflammation. The findings have been published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The retrospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind study enrolled cART-treated HIV-positive men and women aged 18–65 (n=36) with stable HIV disease and impaired glucose tolerance. Patients were randomly assigned to sitagliptin 100mg per day or placebo for eight weeks. Plasma glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, lipid levels, immune cell counts, several markers of inflammation, and other indicators of health were measured at baseline and Week 8.

Patients taking sitagliptin showed greater improvement in plasma glucose levels, along with several markers of immune activation and inflammation, compared to the placebo arm. However, long-term studies are needed to assess if sitagliptin may reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke, and hypertension, along with diabetes.